The Washington Blade Talks to Immigration Equality About Upcoming Gutierrez Legislation
The Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson has a story up at the paper’s website about the upcoming immigration reform legislation from Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL). Johnson spoke with Immigration Equality’s executive director, Rachel Tiven, about her reaction to the principles released by Congressman Gutierrez earlier this week, and the families in the Congressman’s district who will be impacted by the bill.
Rachel Tiven, executive director of Immigration Equality, said her organization is hoping Gutierrez’ strong commitment to means he would include an LGBT provision in his bill.
Specifically, Tiven is looking for a provision allowing gay Americans to sponsor their foreign partners for residency in the United States. Such a measure would be similar to the Uniting American Families Act, a standalone bill pending in Congress.
“We are really, really encouraged by Congressman Gutierrez’ principles that came out this week that emphasize that all families need protection and that comprehensive immigration reform is a package that will provide security and safety for all families,” she said.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who introduced a standalone version of UAFA in the House, has been talking to Gutierrez about the importance of LGBT inclusion in immigration reform, according to his office.
Ilan Kayatsky, a Nadler spokesperson, said the lawmaker has been speaking with Gutierrez as well as other lawmakers involved in crafting immigration reform legislation.
“It is clear that no comprehensive immigration reform would truly be comprehensive if LGBT families are excluded,” Kayatsky said. “We will continue to do everything possible to pass UAFA and bring justice to bi-national same-sex couples.”
Tiven said Immigration Equality also is encouraging Gutierrez to ensure his bill includes LGBT families.
“I can tell you for certain that he has heard from constituents in his own district who have been clear that this affects their families and that care about this a great deal,” she said.
To read The Blade’s full report, click here.
UPDATE: A spokesperson for Congressman Gutierrez provided The Blade with a statement this afternoon: Rebecca Dreilinger, spokesperson for Gutierrez, noted in an e-mail that the lawmaker is an original co-sponsor for UAFA, and said he “continues [to] evalutate, along with civil rights and other immigration activists, how to best reach this goal as the immigration debate moves forward.”
As usual, IE has left no stone unturned, and so promptly…thanks IE.
Comment by Joe — October 17, 2009 @ 5:35 am
@Jon (previous blog#11): Just to be clear, I was not suggesting that the wait we are made to endure is either just or right. Just the reality. On the other hand, if you review the course, UAFA and its various iterations all started during the “drought” years, when the Prez and Congress were totally hostile to our cause. So the reality of our waiting time is really just a year (when Obama and the current congress assumed office). I sort of think of it like: “UAFA was a distressed boat in the middle of the Sahara for 8 years… now it is a distressed boat in the middle of the NY harbor/Hudson River”….help is on the way : ))
Comment by Joe — October 17, 2009 @ 5:39 am
Maybe he’s trying to build support for the bill before he adds UAFA (or something similar). It’s bound to create controversy, so it might be better for him to wait to put it in until there is more support for the bill in general.
Comment by Sarah — October 17, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
#2, I understand. I agree, it will come, it’s just a matter of when…hopefully not 2020, 2025, or later.
Comment by Jon — October 18, 2009 @ 12:27 am
The updated statement sounds like a cop out. He obviously did not make it clear as to whether gay families are included. It is enough to sponsor UAFA, but it is too much of a risk and too “controversial for Gutierrez to include us in his bill. The only congressmen that is firm about the inclusion of us in the CIR is Mike Honda, we should all be thankful for Mike Honda and his attempt to include us. So what is happening with Honda’s bill? His bill is going to merge with Gutierrez’s? It just doesn’t look very promising too. All of you maybe should be realistic and start to look for girls to get married. I am so angry and fed up now.
Comment by Chung Cheng Fang — October 18, 2009 @ 3:58 pm
Gosh…I am giving up hope now.
Comment by Harrison — October 18, 2009 @ 4:23 pm
Since I’m in the mood of adding salt to wounds….did you folks notice the news lately? They still have instances of marriages being denied in these United States…yes, straight but interracial marriages still denied…LEGALLY!!! Where are we all living? Totally eye-opening not to mention unbelievable.
Comment by Joe — October 18, 2009 @ 5:02 pm
Well I am in the mood to add some salt to the wound also. I am in same situation like everyone else. My bf from Thailand is here on visitor visa till March, after that he will have to go back, and then it is my turn to visit him in Thailand.
But I am disappointed by inaction of my brothers and sisters in fight for UAFA.
We all can do more and we have to do more. They say there are more then 36 thousand bi-national couples. By the entry in the blogs I can account for maybe 36 of us, yes that is thirty six.
How many of us tried to meet with their congressman to tell them about our plight.
How many of us tried to raise money to help IE to lobby for us.
I am sorry if I offended anyone, but we need more action, and I am sorry to tell you that but we have to do it ourselves, since no one else will do it for us.
Comment by robert — October 19, 2009 @ 10:55 am
#8, I can understand the reluctance of some to speak up. If they have an undocumented partner living with them, they might prefer to stay out of the spotlight. Though, I agree, of the 36,000, there should be thousands and thousands–at least a lot more than we 36 or so–who are active.
Comment by Jon — October 19, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
I’ve been following this site for awhile and I am slightly embarassed that I am asking now.
What can I do to contribute (if not financially) if I’m currently residing overseas?
Comment by T — October 19, 2009 @ 9:07 pm
#10, first thing that comes to mind is that you can spread the word. You can write letters-to-the-editor in US newspapers and periodicals, or post in blogs or forums, or make sure that people you know in the US are aware of the situation, and even spread the word in your country…perhaps people you tell will know people in the US and they can spread the word.
Comment by Jon — October 19, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
T #10, .Don’t be embarassed……as jon says, a easy start is
just awareness etc and speaking out-loud on this issue.
then what ever you can do along the way after is all “Good”……
Comment by derek — October 20, 2009 @ 5:34 pm
T – join Out4Immigration and take part in the weekly efforts to contact Congress about UAFA and RFA.
http://out4immigration.org/immigration/homepage.html
The more people who contact Congress, the better. We’ve already had some success in gaining co-sponsors and continue each week. Please join our efforts!
Comment by Tom — October 20, 2009 @ 9:33 pm